In a move to combat certificate fraud and improve academic standards, the Federal Government has made compliance with the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD) policy a mandatory requirement for all prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The directive, which takes effect on October 6, was approved by President Bola Tinubu and communicated through a circular from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. This new regulation applies to all Nigerian graduates, regardless of whether they studied at a Nigerian or overseas institution.
According to the circular, the new requirement is in line with Sections 2(4)(4) and 16(1)(C) of the NYSC Act. It aims to ensure that all graduates contribute to a national knowledge base and serve as a crucial quality assurance check.
A key component of the policy requires students to deposit their academic works, such as thesis or project reports, with the NERD. This is intended to “inviolably time-stamp scholarship, academic activities, and footprint regardless of location,” as stated in the policy’s Section 6.1.23. The government believes this will help curb certificate racketeering and academic misconduct.
The NYSC will now act as a legal body to ensure that graduates are not only contributors to national service but also to the national pool of knowledge.
Additionally, the circular mandates that all higher education institutions and organizations must submit annual compliance reports to NERD by March 30 of each year. This measure is designed to enhance monitoring, evaluation, and accountability to ensure the policy’s long-term sustainability.
